"Festive" vs. "jolly": unwrapping the linguistic cheer

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 21/10/2024, 00:17

English.me team member

Festive and jolly. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "festive" and "jolly" are adjectives related to celebrations and cheerful moods. They are often used to describe things or people associated with holiday spirits or joyful occasions.

What is different?

"Festive" typically describes things related to a festival or celebration, such as decorations or attire. "Jolly" is more frequently used to describe people or moods that are cheerful and full of good humor.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Festive

The city was decorated with festive lights for the holiday season.
She wore a festive dress to the party.
The atmosphere at the event was lively and festive.

Jolly

Santa Claus is often depicted as a jolly man.
Everyone was in a jolly mood at the reunion.
His jolly laughter filled the room.